YES I MISS WEARING MY SA UNIFORM (part 5)

After many years of feeling less than a part of the Army, realizing they wanted us out, we gave them what they wanted and on April 30th of this year we resigned our officership. I had served faithfully for 32 years and Randy for 25. Our love for God and subsequently the work we were given to do in the Army was so precious to us. Our children knew nothing else and are divided in what they feel they should do. One son continues to work as the Youth Pastor in our home corps, but not without difficulty.

Now, as we have removed ourselves from the situation and the Army we look back through much clearer glasses and see so much. I believe the number one problem in the Army is politics, and ‘politics as usual’. We keep thinking someone new will come along and at least attempt to fix the areas that concern us but it never seems happens. Second, the love of money is becoming rampant in the Army in the USA. Buildings are still getting bigger, budgets are still getting bigger, homes (quarters) are getting fancier and are in areas other than where we serve, and fewer and fewer people are getting saved. Fewer people are attending our Sunday meetings and activities. We were ridiculed by our leaders because we actually had a real Salvation Meeting active in our corps. We were averaging 93 people on Sunday evenings and weekly, people were getting saved, with only the Corps Sergant Major standing alongside us to help. We had taken our after-school program to an area where the children were not given any educational support whatsoever. We were fortunate enough to have the offer of a common room given to us to hold this program, at no charge, and on Fridays we held SonDay’s Cool there. What an impact that was having on that little community ! The United Way would not fund it as it wasn’t in the Army building and now the plan is to take it out of the school and bring it back to the corps’ building at the cost of those families, for money. It’s all about money. It’s all about MORE money.

I’m no longer angry, I’m no longer hurting or reeling as I was a year ago. I do feel sad at times because were not able to make the changes we felt we should. We followed our hearts, our souls and our consciences only to be hurt over and over by the leadership of the Army.

Randy is now a associate professor at a university here in our home town.
Ironically, he teaches Organizational Leadership, Faith and World Views and Human Resources. He has the respect of his leaders, his students and fellow faculty members. I am a stay-at-home mom for the time being, caring for our two adopted children, Donnie who is four and Torrie who is three. We have found a wonderful church home where we have become active in Bible studies and the children in their activities as well.

I would not be telling the truth if I said I don’t miss the Army. I miss the mission, my homeless people, the children we worked with, and my friends, but I do not miss any of the politics, the unhappy colleagues, the people who can’t find any satisfaction unless they are making someone else unhappy and the leadership who feel they have to be controlling and looking down at those who they say they are supporting and serving.

We are content to be in His service in a new place. We are pleased that He has seen fit to equip us for new work and gives us opportunities to do just that.


Former Officer
(name and contact information supplied on request)